Introduction
Released on May 9, 2005, as the second single from Toby Keith’s ninth studio album Honkytonk University, “As Good as I Once Was” was co-written by Keith and longtime collaborator Scotty Emerick . Produced by Keith alongside James Stroud, the track embodies a tongue‑in‑cheek reflection on middle age, delivered in Keith’s characteristic bar‑room storytelling style .
Musically, the song opens with a relaxed country-rock groove, setting the stage for the first-person narrator—a man aware he’s no longer in his prime but still holding onto moments of former glory. The lyrics humorously recount being propositioned by twin sisters and jumping into a bar fight to defend his friend, Dave. In each scene, the narrator admits he’s “may not be as good as I once was,” but quips that he can still “be as good, once, as I ever was” . This clever twist underscores the bittersweet acceptance of age mixed with lingering self-confidence.
The music video, directed by Michael Salomon, dramatizes these vignettes. It premiered on CMT in mid‑May 2005 and features actors portraying the twins and bar fight, complete with a comedic ambulance exit . The song resonated widely, topping the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for six weeks beginning July 23, 2005—matching the run of Keith’s earlier hit “Beer for My Horses”—and earning BMI’s Song of the Year honor in 2006 .
Critics praised its self‑deprecating humor and relatability: About.com called it “a fun track about getting older,” Sputnik Music lauded its honest tribute to aging, and AllMusic called it “wonderfully self‑depreciating” . It also garnered a CMA nomination for Single of the Year and won Music Video of the Year at the 2005 Country Music Association Awards .
Over time, “As Good as I Once Was” has become one of Toby Keith’s signature songs—an anthem for embracing midlife’s limitations with humor and grit, while still clinging to moments of youthful defiance.